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Posted by NateHeupel on October 3rd, 2009 under Football
I’m going to start with the part that’s not going to shock a lot of people. Bob Stoops, it’s time for you to do something selfless. Send Sam Bradford on his way to the NFL. Gresham isn’t coming back, Broyles is out for 4-6 weeks with a broken shoulder blade, and the offensive line is still a liability. We now have no chance whatsoever at making the national championship game. Don’t let Bradford come back, even if he wants to. Send him down to one of the draft training camps, and let him spend a year getting ready for the draft. There’s no point in asking him to risk his career at this point for a shot at the Cotton Bowl.
Boys and girls, I know we think we’ve won some “big games” recently, but here’s reality. Conference championship games haven’t qualified since the Big 12 North stopped being relevant circa 2004. Every team we’ve played in the Big 12 CCG is a team we should’ve beaten by 10 points or more. A big game is a game where you’re playing an evenly matched opponent. The last truly big game we won in that time frame was the battle against Texas in 2007. Outside of that, we’ve been absolutely snake bit.
Before you throw the 2005 Holiday Bowl at me, tell me this. Who was their starting QB who led them to their top 10 ranking? Did we play against him in the Holiday Bowl? It’s no different than us losing Sam Bradford. We’re a 4-0 team with Bradford at the helm, even with the poor OL play and the injuries to the WRs. Oregon probably beats us in that game with their starting QB.
Think about it. 2006 Fiesta Bowl? Malcolm Kelly out. 2007
Fiesta Bowl? FIVE starters gone before kickoff. 2008 BCS title game? DeMarco Murray out. 2009 BYU? Sam Bradford goes down in the 2nd quarter, Gresham is lost for the year 2 days before the game. 2009 Miami? Bradford’s out, Gresham’s out, Broyles is lost in the 1st quarter.
Kevin Wilson better have brushed up his resume. His playcalls confused even the booth announcers from time to time, and many of them were flat out stupid. The delay draw on 3rd and 9 for the second time. The slip screen on 3rd and 11. The offtackle handoff to Brown on 2nd and 11 the play prior when Miami was primed for a playaction pass. This is not Wilson’s first trip to Miami where ridiculous and predictable play calling cost OU a shot to win. We settled for field goals when we needed TD’s, and we left WAY too many points on the board.
Brent Venables’ is not capable of coaching an elite defense. It’s that simple. He’s got the best front 4 in America, bar none. McCoy was wrecking stuff in the middle, and Jeremy Beal was EVERYWHERE. Javarris James still went for 150 yards on 15 carries. This was the difference for Miami tonight. We needed 34 carries to get 150 yards rushing. The LB’s were getting beat consistently over the middle, and Whipple pretty much beat Venables in this chess match. The final drive was supremely instructive. Venables expects a running play, Whipple dials up a playaction rollout to a wide open receiver along the sideline for a 1st down. 3rd and 6 with the game on the line, and Whipple waits to see what we show and calls a timeout. He comes back out with a TE drag route to win the game.
Players of the Game
Offense
Cameron Kenney - 6 rec., 72 yards, 1 TD. The lone bright spot on offense, Cam Kenney stepped up and answered the call when Broyles went down. Kenney got open more than he got thrown to.
Defense
Jeremy Beal - 3 sacks, 1 tipped pass, and a great overall effort.
Holiday Bowl, here we come.
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NorthDallasSooner said:
October 4th, 2009 at 3:40 am
When Broyles went down it was very unlikely that OU was going to win. We simply have no weapons outside to keep the defenses off our RBs.
There’s just too many injuries to overcome so far. If Broyles is indeed out 4-6, who catches anything more than a checkdown against Texas? Honestly, our top receiver last night was a sub-6-foot white guy who was playing at San Francisco City College last year.
All things considered I thought the OU team fought hard, certainly harder than they did against BYU when adversity struck.
And on the “Shut Sam down” business. Sam came back because he wanted to. How do any of us know that he doesn’t intend to come back next year too? College football is college football played by college football players. If they can make a living at it later, by all means, great for them. But there is no moral obligation to sit college football players because they have a pro future. It’s a great outcome for individuals, but college football is superior because it’s a true team game. What I’m saying is, between the lines on a Saturday, do you really care that a guy will “play on Sundays?”
NorthDallasSooner said:
October 4th, 2009 at 3:57 am
BTW, before I let you get away with the “we haven’t beaten anyone in five years” business………
While I agree we should’ve beaten them by 10, wasn’t Missouri #1 when we smacked them in San Antonio, for the second time that season?
Dennis Dixon started that Holiday Bowl. Having Brady Leaf finish it was a coaches decision. That game wasn’t nearly as close as the score. We dominated them.
TTU, despite our superiority historically and athletically, was #2 when it took the 65-whatever shit kicking last year.
Yes, when we’ve stepped out of conference against top teams we’ve not played well the last several years. But is there any question we’re a comfortable 4-0 without all these injuries? Injuries happen and injuries suck. Sometimes they can be overcome, sometimes not……
NateHeupel said:
October 4th, 2009 at 7:29 am
“When Broyles went down it was very unlikely that OU was going to win. We simply have no weapons outside to keep the defenses off our RBs.”
Did we at least try? Because it sure as hell didn’t look like it. Cameron Kenney was playing a hell of a game last night, and we didn’t utilize him fully. When you’ve lost Broyles, Gresham, and Bradford, it’s time to get hectic, not scared. This is why I am now fully on the Fire Kevin Wilson bandwagon. When the pressure is on, he wilts. He has no sense of game flow. He can win as long as he’s got superior players at every position. Otherwise, he’s a liability.
“What I’m saying is, between the lines on a Saturday, do you really care that a guy will “play on Sundays?””
Have you not been following the NFL collective bargaining agreement news? THE primary issue is a very strict salary cap on rookie salaries. Whereas Sam would make probably about 15-20 million guaranteed if he came out this year, next year that number will be closer to 2-5 million. That’s a lot of money, but it’s not generational wealth. It’s not the kind of money that changes things for your great grandchildren.
I get what you’re saying. Some guys don’t care about the NFL. OU is their dream. This window won’t be open next year. There won’t be millions upon millions on the table. I can’t justify Sam Bradford risking a chance to change the stars for his family for generations to come so we can pursue a Cotton Bowl berth.
Barking Carnival — Blog — What we Learned Yesterday said:
October 4th, 2009 at 8:35 am
[...] to a bar in time for OU-Miami?) 3. Bob Stoops STILL can’t win a marquee game, as our friend Nate details over at B&S. 4. Shockingly, Texas fans aren’t above kicking a team while it’s down. My favorite has [...]
NorthDallasSooner said:
October 4th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Actually, what I’m saying is that I don’t care about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I care about the Oklahoma Sooners.
Vasherized said:
October 4th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
My kneejerk reaction?
C-
You’ve certainly been cursed with injuries but the Sooners have a glaring lack of depth across the board that you don’t see at Texas, USC, or Florida.
You also don’t have many guys on the roster that have won big games and know how to close out an opponent. You can read it in their body language and on the faces of the coaching staff. Bob stomps around yelling at refs, his players, and anyone that will listen then starts readjusting his headset every 10 seconds. Do you think the ass chewing Keenan Clayton got for busted coverage on that TD did much good for his confidence? Or recruiting? I love it when Stoops blows up because it reveals his inner prick to a national audience. Seriously, what other head coaches do that? That shit could fly when he was racking up meaningful hardware but what does that act do for you now?
Given what you have to work with at OL, I’m surprised it wasn’t more of a jailbreak on QB2. It’s clear the coaches are willing to take a holding penalty over another unblocked, potential season-ending injury. The difference is those plays are actually getting called as penalties.
I predicted the leg whip from Willams. Even satirical, semi-hallucinogenic pieces on theoretical coaches’ meetings bear fruit once in a while. The attempt to grade it was high comedy.
I see a field day from Acho, Jones, Kindle & co. in two weeks without a go-to receiver or a serviceable tight end.
Everything fell your way last year and you couldn’t close the deal against Florida. Nothing is going right for OU this year and I’d be lying if I said we aren’t enjoying every bit of it.
Props to Jeremy Beal. He gets an A.
ctex80 said:
October 5th, 2009 at 10:07 am
“The last truly big game we won in that time frame was the battle against Texas in 2007.”
And that Texas team sucked. Hate to see so many kids get hurt, but thems the breaks. I can do the same thing with all of Texas’ recent losses as well. Lost Cosby and Orakpo against Tech. ‘07 it was Sweed. ‘06 Concussed Colt. Se la vie. At some point you have to win despite the injuries.
Spot on analysis, though, and I couldn’t agree more about Bradford.
Ricky said:
October 5th, 2009 at 10:24 am
“Actually, what I’m saying is that I don’t care about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I care about the Oklahoma Sooners.” -Bob Stoops, 11:59am, 10/17/09
This sort of selfishness is OK from a fan, though I think most college football fans aren’t quite that selfish anymore, especially when they see the recruiting value of having high-profile alumni in the NFL. But this seems to be Stoops’s attitude about his players’ futures if the whispers are true and at some point recruits will think twice about taking that risk. Bradford is about as OU-born-and-bred as they come, but most of OU’s best talent aren’t from that mold and at what point do they stop and think about losing that NFL signing bonus because of a career-ending injury that didn’t need to happen. I think Stoops would be doing himself a favor if he overrides Bradford’s desire to return by telling him to take the money and make OU proud in the NFL.
Vasherized said:
October 5th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Se la vie is Franco-Texan for ‘tough shit’.
Minnesotahorn said:
October 5th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Nate you’re a solid poster and a good dude so I’ll not insult us both by pretending to feel bad for you right now. I’m sure you understand.
Your Bradford plea is admirable but I have to admit I chortle at it like a ‘World Peace’ bumper sticker. Nothing in Bob Stoops’ history gives any indication that he’d pursue such a course. Which is fine really. He’s in a position where winning football games for OU is of such paramount importance that any other consideration is effectively non-existent. And he seems to be the perfect guy for that.
Your big game struggles are certainly no secret and you’ve self-flagellated enough that I need not pile on. I think there are a couple of factors but the easiest to remedy is probably Venables. Do you see that as a realistic possibility after this season?
NorthDallasSooner said:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Ricky: You’re saying that even if he is healthy he shouldn’t play, right? If so, should not McCoy and Murray sit out the remainder of the season as well?
I’m not suggesting Bradford should play if hurt, nor if he no longer wants to,not for a second. What I’m saying is, that if he is healthy, the coaches obligation is to compete and put the best players on the field that they have.
VY's therapist said:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Vasherized,
I understand that the Horns are loving every minute of OU’s demise, and rightfully so, but nothing “fell into place” for OU last year. They won the Big 12 South fair and square-end of story. Let me ask you this: If OU would’ve lost to OSU at the end of the year, who would’ve represented the South? Exactly-Tech, and it STILL wouldn’t have mattered that TX beat OU by 10. Everything changes when there are 3 teams…If OU would’ve beat BYU and Miami, they would be ranked #2 right now instead of Texas. It’s called strength of schedule-get over it dude. If Mack and company don’t win the Big 12 title this year, that will be a MASSIVE embarrassment. It’s dangling from the tree-just reach up and grab it. Kind of like in 2006.
As for OU/TX, any takers on the spread? Last year OU was favored by 7, and that’s with both teams being in the top 10 and healthy. It would be interesting to see…Texas #2, OU #19. TX 5-0, OU 3-2 with the whole team depleted. The spread never exceeds 10 points in this game it seems like-it’ll be a head-scratcher if it’s less.
NorthDallasSooner said:
October 5th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
If the game were this week, Texas would be a 15 point favorite.
Soonervino said:
October 5th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
FIrst of all, it’s not Stoops job to coach NFL, its to coach OU. And if that means putting a healthy Bradford on the field in any game, that is his job.
Second, thanks to VY for pointing out the ridiculous-ness of arguing OU’s veracity in playing for the Big 12 Championship and MNC. Any UT fan who believed that after an OU whipping of a #2 TTU in that particular point in the season, that OU wouldn’t leapfrog UT in the standings wasn’t paying attention. The entire week leading up to the OU TTU game, every local and national sports pundit called that one on strength of schedule.
And come on Ricky. All college fans are that selfish. It only depends on whose ox is getting gored. If McCoy took a unpenalized helmet on helmet shot from Kindle like Potts did and was out for 3 weeks, (yes, I know Potts wasn’t, hyperbole) you’d be pulling for him playing in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, not the Death Star next year as a rookie. That said, I look at every Cowboy’s opponent’s lineup in the Dallas Morning News to see how many played for OU.